Automated Electrical Design System for PV Installation
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Solution Overview
Problem
The manual and labor-intensive process of designing grid-connected photovoltaic (PV) systems is time-consuming and requires specialized training, making it inefficient and inaccessible to non-experts.
Innovation Solution
A computer-implemented system that receives user input for energy generation systems, uses an electrical data model and decision tree to automate the design process, generating an installation diagram that includes component interconnections and a bill of materials, ensuring compliance with electrical standards like the National Electric Code.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual design process is used by trained individuals, then design accuracy and compliance are ensured, but design time and labor requirements increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an automated design system that acts as an intermediary between design requirements and final electrical design output. This system incorporates decision trees and electrical data models to encode expert knowledge, allowing non-expert users to access professional-grade design capabilities while maintaining compliance with electrical codes and standards.
Solution Approach 2:
The manual mechanical process of expert design review and calculation is replaced with an automated computer-based system. The system uses algorithms, decision trees, and electrical data models to automatically perform design calculations, component selection, and code compliance checking, eliminating the need for manual intervention while maintaining design quality.
2Reliability
If specialized training is required for electrical design, then design quality is maintained, but accessibility and ease of operation decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables users to perform electrical design tasks independently without requiring specialized training. Through intuitive graphical interfaces and automated guidance, users can complete design tasks that previously required expert knowledge, making the design process accessible to a broader range of practitioners while maintaining quality through built-in validation and compliance checking.
Solution Approach 2:
The automated design system consolidates multiple expert functions into a single universal tool that can handle various electrical design scenarios. The system incorporates diverse electrical codes, standards, and design methodologies within unified software, allowing one tool to replace multiple specialized resources that previously required separate expert knowledge.
3Manufacturing precision
If comprehensive electrical data models and decision trees are implemented, then design accuracy and compliance are improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The complex design system is divided into modular components including decision trees for different design scenarios, electrical data models for component specifications, and graphical interface modules for user interaction. This segmentation allows the system to manage complexity through organized, reusable modules while maintaining high design accuracy through comprehensive coverage of electrical code requirements.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for facilitating the electrical design of an energy generation system. In one embodiment, a method is provided that can comprise receiving, by a computer system from a user, first information pertaining to an energy generation system to be installed at a customer site. The method can further comprise determining an electrical design for installing the energy generation system at the customer site, where the determining is based on the first information, second information retrieved from one or more external data sources, an electrical data model, and a decision tree that models the electrical design process. An installation diagram can then be generated that illustrates the determined electrical design.